history – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Magician and Fool (Arcana Oracle #1)

Title: Magician and Fool (Arcana Oracle #1)
Author: Susan Wands
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: SparkPress
Source: BookSparks
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Pamela Colman Smith, newly arrived from New York to her birthplace of London, is received as an oddball in Victorian society. Her second sight helps her in her new illustrating tarot cards for the Golden Dawn, a newly formed occult group. But when Pamela refuses to share her creations with Aleister Crowley, a controversial magician, he issues a give up the cards’ power, or he’ll harm her muses.

In the midst of this battle, two of Pamela’s idols, the actors Henry Irving and William Terriss, take her under their wing. Henry, who tutors her as the leader of the Lyceum Theatre, becomes the muse for her Magician card. William Terriss, teaching her by examples of instinct and courage, becomes the muse for her Fool card. As Pamela begins to create the tarot deck, she is almost overwhelmed by the race to possess the magical power of her cards. In order to defeat Aleister, Henry and William will have to transform into living incarnations of the Magician and the Fool—and Pamela will have to learn how to conjure her own magic.

Review:

This book is an intriguing historical fiction about an occult group in the Victorian era. The men who created the group were all well known men in their fields, such as Bram Stoker and Henry Irving. The story also followed a young girl, Pamela Colman Smith, as she experienced strange magical powers during her childhood until she became an adult. I recognized some of the characters as real historical figures, but I didn’t realize Pamela was a real person too until the end. I’m looking forward to continuing the series!

Magician and Fool is an interesting magical historical fiction!

Thank you BookSparks for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parents (off page)

Other books in the series:

High Priestess and Empress (Arcane Oracle #2)
Emperor and Hierophant (Arcane Oracle #3)

Have you read Magician and Fool? What did you think of it?

Review: Chilling with Ghosts

Title: Chilling with Ghosts
Author: Insha Fitzpatrick, Lilla Bölecz
Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction
Publisher: Quirk Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 15, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Discover everything about ghosts in this fun handbook packed with spooky tales, engrossing science, and fascinating history–perfect for middle grade readers and mythology fans!

Boo! Do you believe in ghosts? What’s up with haunted houses? And how exactly do you bust a ghost? Uncover the spooky and spectacular world of ghosts in Chilling with Ghosts, a field guide for the curious and the adventurous. Step into the unknown—if you dare!—and discover:

Scary ghost stories of all kinds! Learn how to tell your very own ghost story.
Terrifying tales from history and weird science! Find out what ghost fungus is and meet a couple of Shakespearean ghosts.
A globe-trotting tour of haunted spots! Travel all around the world, from the Catacombs of Paris to the Stanley Hotel.

Chilling with Ghosts is the second book in the Totally Factual Field Guide to the Supernatural series, a hilarious and haunting exploration of how myths and legends shape our lives. Get to know ghost lore with enchanting illustrations and hands-on activities, like brewing homemade ectoslime. It’s a spooky world out there—grab your guide, and let’s go!

Review:

This was such a fun book about ghosts! There were sections on how to interact with ghosts, the history of ghosts, and stories about ghosts. There were some fun activities at the end of the chapters too, such as how to make ectoslime, a recipe for a graveyard parfait, and a library scavenger hunt. This book is perfect for kids who are interested in ghosts!

Chilling with Ghosts is a fun book about ghosts!

Thank you Quirk Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Chilling with Ghosts? What did you think of it?

Review: Patience, Princess Catherine (Young Royals #4)

Title: Patience, Princess Catherine (Young Royals #4)
Author: Carolyn Meyer
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Clarion Books
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 1, 2004
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur’s betrothed—the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon’s fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine’s parents arrange a marriage with Arthur’s brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess’s resolve remains unshaken. She will one day be England’s queen . . . no matter how long it takes.

Review:

Spanish Princess Catherine was sent to England to marry Princess Arthur Tudor, the future King. A few months after their wedding, Arthur died, but Catherine stayed in England. For many years, her future remained uncertain. Will she go home to Spain or marry Arthur’s younger brother Henry? Catherine must be patient while she waits, determined to one day be Queen of England.

This is a great middle grade adaptation of Catherine of Aragon’s life. It told her story leading up to her marriage to Henry VIII. Each chapter began with a passage about what Henry was doing at the time and what his feelings were towards Catherine. The story focused on the big events that happened over the eight years that Catherine was left waiting to be Queen.

Patience, Princess Catherine is a great middle grade story for readers interested in history.